Author: StoneyTitle: Where There's Smoke [9/12+]Rating:NC-17 Dirty bass line...Pairing: Kurt/Blaine, Wes and David friendship, mentions of former Finn/RachelWord Count:10,400/100,000 Warnings: Kurt finally hangs out at the fire station. Guess what happens? (Be prepared, my firefighter daughters, for intense situations) Summary: Fireman AU, set 7 years after graduation. Kurt is Kurt, except that he never met Blaine Anderson. Blaine grew up in Brooklyn with his mother and firefighter father. Rachel and Kurt have graduated NYADA, Kurt gained a Masters from Tisch, and now they're in their first post-college apartment together ready to tackle their dreams. Unfortunately, Rachel never learned how to properly cook and almost sets their new house on fire. Enter Dreamy McFirepants.A/N: This wouldn't exist without the most amazing editor a person could ask for, flaming_muse. Any remaining errors fall squarely on her my shoulders. :D Also, I am ultimately a romantic, I don't like character death, I love writing happy endings, and Kurt and Rachel live in my dream place in Carroll Gardens (it's modeled after a real piece of real estate there.) I tried to be as accurate as a visitor to NYC can get, but did take a few liberties with neighborhood bodegas.

I was saving this to reward me after I finished all my chores today, and I very nearly broke down and opened it up early...and now I am so glad I didn't!!! I had nothing to distract me from the chocolatey goodness that was this chapter!

I'm seriously thinking of printing out all these chapters and taking them up to the school to have them bound, just for me, and placing this on the shelf between my LOTR and Harry Potter books.

Oh, I'm so glad you stuck it out (it had to be a deliberate choice on Kurt's part! Not just heady/lust-filled wandering, but "I am going to do this, and do this right. With silk jim-jams and face creams."

Just let me love you and bask in the glory that is this amazing story. So glad I waited to read this until you had the majority of this posted because now I only have a few more days of torture until you post it all. But of course, its so good that I don't think I ever want it to end.

*sobbing uncontrollably* you need to stop lovey. you need stop making me feel all these emotions and making me think about this fic all day long as I wait for the next part. it's unhealthy and people are going to start thinking I am going crazy.

I wish I could hug you right now because I don't think there any words to express how freakin' amazing this chapter was. It was so beautiful and even their love scene was so beautiful and loving and touching and... gahh! It was perfect and it makes me smile and warms my heart because Kurt and Blaine always talk about their feelings and their fears in this story and it is so godamm beautiful that I have tears in my eyes from your writing.

you are an amazing writer and I am not just saying that because of this story. You write absolutely beautifully, the way you express and explain and the way your perceive the characters' differing emotions is phenomenal. You are one of those rare writers that I would read absolutely anything you produce no matter what the topic. You are amazing. There are simply no words.

I am sorry it has taken so long to write this but, I hope somehow you can understand even a little bit of how much I loved this chapter and how much I cherish your writing. <3 with heaps of cuddles; stephanie.

So again I am at a loss for words to try to explain my feelings about your writing. You are slowly killing me, one breathtaking chapter at a time.

I think the thing that I love more than anything else in this story is the pacing. Because you decided to gift us with 100,000 words of absolute brilliance, you have afforded yourself the opportunity to let this story unfold at the most wonderful pace, letting the story breathe and not feel at all rushed.

I let out a (not very silent) whoop when I saw the rating for this chapter, yet even in this chapter you took your time getting us to the sexytimes, but it didn't feel like you were withholding anything or trying to build the suspense. It all just unfolded so beautifully. I read a comment someone made earlier that said they felt like they were intruding on a private moment, and I agree.

As is my habit, I have to cite a few specific lines that just really resonated with me or affected me in the best possible ways:

"Before he drifted back asleep, he had a clear thought, This is where I'm supposed to be." THANK GOD Kurt has seen the light

"Seriously. This is...I've been an idiot. “You don't know how glad I was for you to come back.” Yep...you are an idiot for letting this guy go to bed alone for the last 2 weeks (though I understand why you did it, Kurt)

“It's probably better if you take your time.”Blaine sat back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Kurt's face. Oh, he was hungry, that much Kurt could see. Blaine laid his fork along the outside edge of his plate, his eyes raking over Kurt, “I plan on it.” - Remember my swooning from a few chapters back? It has returned with a vengeance.

“Good. Because I have plans.” - oh, yes. Bring it on, Kurt...

"Knowing that he could bring about this reaction in someone, in Blaine was heady. Kurt felt powerful, desired, and humbled to be trusted to not just break Blaine into tiny little pieces..." - I love this because it so perfectly describes what sex can be.

I loved the insight into Kurt's thoughts on giving/receiving oral sex and as I read it, I couldn't wait to see how Kurt's opinions changed (as they did of course) when Blaine was the one giving.

“God, Kurt, do you know what you're doing to me?”...“You're doing the same thing to me.” - oh boys, you are too sweet for words.

The visual you created of the moment of Kurt's climax with their two hands involved was simply magnificent. I am just speechless

"Naked during the heat of passion was one thing, but getting naked in the bright light of noon-day sun was another." - THIS. It is so funny how the mind works, but this is so so true.

I can't quote the entire section where Kurt addresses how scared Blaine's job still makes him and how deep his level of caring and concern is for those he loves, but suffice it to say it was flawless. I loved Blaine reassuring him that modern tracking devices ensure that someone is always looking out for him.

Kurt's story about the misplaced shoe was heartbreaking but so totally Kurt.

“It turns out that the missing part of me was you.” - SWOON SWOON SWOON

The silly little moment of teasing and jokes is the other reason I love this story. The story so perfectly weaves the passion, caring and humor of these two.

“Mm, I do know what I want,” Kurt murmured. - oops, Kurt :0)

However of all of the amazing moments that I have called out here (plus the dozens of others that I did not) THIS is the moment where you showed just how in the head of Kurt Hummel you are:

“It's...this has been a perfect day, Blaine. Perfect. And you-- I don't usually end up with a happy story, is all. I end up being the best friend, the sassy side kick or the one that sets up the guy I'm interested in with some dull pretty boy. I'm not used to being the one chosen.” PERFECTION. And Blaine's reaction was just so lovely. I just love how breathlessly awed they each are to be in each others space and in each others arms.

The lingering good bye and the adorable text messages were like 12 cherries on top of the worlds greatest brownie sundae.

Once again you win all the awards for being the most amazing commenter ever. You know the gif with the pillow squeezing guy? THAT IS ME. (I'm too lazy right now to dig it up, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. <3)

Thank you so much for pointing out the pacing. I originally planned on something MUCH shorter (1/5 the length) but realized that I wanted to write this entire world, if only for my own enjoyment. I love when writers have a fic universe that feels like you could live in it, you can see the rooms, smell the cologne/the outdoor air, you can picture every little thing. (But then, I don't want to be the writer that spends five paragraphs describing the trees. Proust? WE GET IT. Madelines and your mom. NEXT.) Haha.

And as is my habit in regards to your habit, I love that you enjoyed those lines in particular!! This chapter was particularly laborious for me (because of the whole "I'm intruding on them, gah" feeling) and didn't want to resort to just describing acrobatics. Not that there's anything wrong with people who write those types of fic (not at all) it just wouldn't fit this story. So that particularly makes me happy, your appreciation for that. <3

Okay, so unfortunately i have to comment anonymously because I really should be finishing this final but I HAD to comment and I was too lazy to create an account..; jeez it's taken me long enough!

This AU is incredible, you have no idea I had this on my 'reading list' on safari. And I came back and clicked it only to find that you had not 1 but 2 updates! This is just incredible, it's 2am and I had to hold back screams of joy, laughter, and anxiety from reading this! I was literally biting my hoodie. This is such a beautiful story, honestly your writing makes me love these two perfect characters and actors who portray them! Your story is incredible, I wish I could applaud you in person and shake your hand among other ways to gratify you on this wonderful tale!

As soon as I find out how to get alerts to my email, because I don't know how to work livejournal, I will. Again, amazing! And I can't wait for them two say those 3 little words whether it be a big display or one of those i-didn't-even-realize-those-words-came-out-but-they've-been-true-all-along type of scenario. Anyways, can't wait for the next chapter and my goodness thank you for such lengthy chapters throughout the story :D <3

I want to marry this chapter, but I'm afraid I'll cheat on it with the next chapter because every chapter you write just gets better and better! Just honestly this whole chapter was beautiful. I think I'll cry once you're finished posting the rest of the story. Or just build a shrine to it if I'm not feeling too lazy xD

Are You Actually

Reading this? I'm just curious. Because that's really detail-oriented of you. Feel free to stop reading. But you can see that there's more here, so are you going to keep reading? Really? That's pretty dedicated. I'm impressed. No, really. I'm not being sarcastic, why do you get like that? See, this is the problem I have with your mother - yes. YES. I'm going there. It's time we put all of our cards on the table.

I love you, why are you doing this? After all we've been through? You don't have to be like this. You know, still reading. You could be baking a pie. And then sharing it with me.